Sink retaining structure



May 15, 1962 G. A. I YoN v 3,034,143

sINK RETAINING STRUCTURE Filed July 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Pfg. j

VIII/.vliz 'gli ill14 INVENTOR.

George /e/'flyon ATTORNEYS May 15, 1962 G. A. LYON 3,034,143

SINK RETAINING STRUCTURE Filed July 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v; ,L I 4/ A ORNEY 3,634,143 SINK RETAINNG STRUCTURE George Albert Lyon, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Lyon Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 20, 1959, Ser. No. 828,173 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-187) the T rests upon the sink flange while the vertical leg eX- tends down between the counter top edge and the edge of the sink iiange and has connected thereto a series of retaining bracket or clip members acting to retain the sink in assembly with the molding frame and also acting to secure the molding frame to the counter top. Such a T-shaped frame molding is a relatively expensive construction and does not lend itself readily to preferences of styling insofar as the exposed transverse head surface contour of the molding is concerned. An important object of the present invention is to rovide an improved sink and retaining clip bracket structure wherein the molding frame or rim flange portion of the sink has inner and outer margins overlying respectively a sink flange and a counter top and the retaining clip bracket has relatively clampingly movable structure securing the sink flange against separation from the flangeengaging margin of the molding frame or rim flange portion while at the same time another part` of the clip bracket draws the counter top engaging margin of the molding frame or rim ange sealingly against the counter top.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sink retaining molding frame strip or rim flange structure of improved simple construction readily adaptable to numerous styling contours and to mass production at low cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for retaining sinks and the like in a counter top and which means includes retaining clip brackets constructed and arranged to be operable in narrow spacings between the counter top and sink rim ange edges.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide in sink retaining means improved retaining bracket clip structure. v

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FGURE 1 is a top plan view of a sink and counter top installation embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational detail view taken substantially on the line ll--ll of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the counter top and sink flange and showing one of the retaining clip bracket members in process of being assembled;

FlGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail view similar to FEGURE 2 but showing a modification;

FIGURE 5 is a similar View showing another modilication;

FIGURE 6 similarly shows a further modication;

FIGURE 7 shows still another modification; and

y 3,034,143 Entented May 15, 1962 FIGURE 8 is an inner side elevational view of the clip bracket of FIGURE 7 taken substantially in the plane of line Vlll-Vlll of FIGURE 7.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, a sink installation is shown including a counter top S having therein a suitable opening 7 of a size to clear therethrough a rigid laterally projecting upper rim flange 8 of a sink 9, the opening 7 being in all dimensions large yenough to clear the edge of the liange 8 with a substantially uniform clearance, the spacing of which may be quite narrow. The counter top 5 may, of course, be provided with a thermosetting type of veneer surfacing material l0, or any other preferred surfacing material.

While the sink 9 may be constructed from fairly heavy gauge material such as steel suitably coated such as with a suitable enamel, a supporting and finishing molding strip retaining ring frame 1i may be made from suitable substantially thinner gauge material such as stainless steel strip .readily susceptible of mass production by rolling methods of manufacture, As shown, the molding strip 11 is of a preferred transverse cross-section, herein of an upwardly arcuate cross-sectional form sloping downwardly and inwardly and having an outer downturned margin 12 providing an edge engageable in sealing relation with the counter top 5 on the upper side of the surface laminate lil adjacent to the edge dening the opening 7. The body portion of the molding strip 11 extends down into the opening 7 into clearance relation relative to the edge defining the opening. yOn its lower inner margin, the molding strip 11 has a return-bent continuous longitudinal short and substantially stiff flange 13 joining the contiguous margin on a reinforcing rib 14 which also provides a seating shoulder engageable with the upper face ofthe contiguous margin of the sink flange S.

For securing the sink flange 8 to the molding strip frame member 11 and the frame member to the Vcounter top 5, a suitable plurality of retaining bracket clipy members 15 is provided. These clips are preferably of a substantially rigid construction comprising a body 17 including a hook shaped head portion 18 to engage in the upwardly opening groove defined by the molding strip member flange 13, an arm 19 for engaging the underside of the margin ofthe counter top 5 adjacent to the opening 7, and a generally oppositely directed arm 2li to underlie the margin of the sink rim flange 8 in clearance relation therebeiow. A relatively movable clamping member herein in the form of a thumb screw 21 is threaded through the arm 2li and is arranged to be driven against the underside of the sink rim iiange margin to eect a clamping 'interengagement of the molding frame strip shoulder 14 with the underlying portion of the rim flange margin.

By having the 'axis of the clamping screw 21 offset relative to the engaging tip of the clamping hook head 18 so that the sink rim engaging tip of the screw engages the underside of the sink rim ange 8 inwardly relative to the line on which the supporting molding ring shoulder 14 engages the upper surface of the rim flange, a rocking movement of the clip 15 about the fulcrum alforded by the tip of the clip head 18'is elfected incident to tightening the screw against the underside of the sink rim flange, driving the iarm 20 of the clip downwardly away from the sink rim flange and the opposite arm 19 upwardly against the undersurface of the counter top 5. As a result, the hook head 18 of the clip member pulls downwardly on the molding strip ring member 11 land elfects a firm clamping of the edge of its margin 12 against the o upper surface of the counter top while at the same time the tip of the hook head 18 firmly drives the molding strip shoulder 14 sealingly against the opposing surface s ing 7'.

, Y a" of the sink rim liangeS which is thrust thereagainst from below by the screw 21.Y It will .be observed that to facilitate this Iaction, the cliphook head 18 is tapered toward its tip to aiord ample clearance with respect to the opposed undersurface of the molding strip member 11, and

the upwardly facing counter top engaging face of the arm 19 is provided with an arcuate cam pressure surface Z2. In order to accommodate the neck portion 'of the hook f head 18 of the clip within the narrow gap between the Vvedge of the underturned hook llange 1'3 of the molding strip memberll and the adjacent edge of the counter top dening the opening 7, such neck is somewhat narrower than the gap, In addition, in order to enable assembly of the hook head 18 with the hook flange 13 of the molding strip, the thickness of the hook head 18, at least, of the clip is less than the gap so that assembly can be eiected .substantially as shown in FIGURE 3. Thatis, the hook head 18 is inserted through the gap while the clip is positioned with the arms 19 and 20 extending longitudinally of the gap as shown in full outline in FIG. 3, 'and is thenswung around kto extend across i the gapV as shown in dash outline in FIG. 3 and in full outline in FIG. 2 to engage the hook head 18 with the hook'ffange V13. Such' assembly' may beeiected either While the counter top 5, the sink 9fand vvthe molding strip frame 11 are in assembled inverted relation, Yor in the upright relation of the components, v tightening of the screw 21 from a substantially backed oi `or retracted position, it 4will `then effect tightening of the assembly 4and a sealing interengagement between the respective marginal edges or shoulders of the molding frame strip ll'and the counter top and the sink rim flange.

VAs many ofthe retaining clips 15 as desirable or necessary may be used `located at Whatever spacing or selected location longitudinally along themolding frame strip 11 as may be desirable. inasmuch as the hook angeg13 on the'inner margin of the molding frame strip 1'1'is continuous, rinnitely variableplacement of the clips 15 is possi-ble for optimum clamping nand retaining .eilciency I n the modiicationof FIGURE 4,V a similar constructionl is shown but provided withfadditional relatively movlable, adjustable clamping attachment `means as shown. To this end, a Acounter top 5' I'havinga sinklopening 7 diirnensionedV to receive therein la rigidsink rim flange 8 vhas a molding strip frame 11' provided with 4an outer margin 12 havingits 'edge engaging uponV the counter top surface 10 and with the body of the strip arched as preferred. Upon Y face 22 of the clip 15 engages the countertop in the form ofFlGUREZ. y

In eiecting assembly of` the clips 25 with the other components of the construction, substantially similar procedure is followed as described in connect-ion with the retaining clips 15 as described in connection with FIG- URE 3. That is, the hook head 28 is inserted into the gap between the frame and sink margins 13 'and 23' respectively and the edge detining the counter top opening 7', with the dat head portion 28 oriented longitudinally of the slot `and'then swung around to engage the tip within the groove deiined by the hook flange 13. Thereupon, either or both of the clamping screws S0 and 32 are tightened to elect secure clamping of all of the components, similarly as described in connection with the Vinvention wherein there is installed in a counter top 33 having an upper surface lamina 34 and a sink-receiving opening 35 a sink 37 which in this instance is of the thin sheet metal drawn typeincl-uding an upper laterally outwardly projectingriin flange38 equipped integrally in one piece on its outer margin with a supporting and nishing molding strip-like retaining irametiange eX- tension portion 39 of arched form including an outer downturned margin engageable in edgewise sealing relation against the opposing counter top surface on the margin adjacent to the wheel opening 3S. At its inner margin, the rim flange extension 39 slopes Vinwardly and downwardly and is joined to the lateral rim flange 38 by means of an underturned outwardly projecting fold flange 41 diverging in spaced relation to the overlying portion of the rim ange frameextension 39 Vto define an outwardly opening groove 42 therewith Vand providing with the Y underlyinglamina of the liange 38 a tightly closed subto extendvgenerally downwardly and inwardly into spaced Y relation to the edge of the counter top defining the openand hook dia-nge 13' a shoulder 14' which complementary face-to-face relation as shown.V

' Clampingly securing the sink componentsis a suitable l I spaced 'series of, rigid retaining bracket clips 25 each of Whchhas a body 27 provided wit-h an up'standing hook rhead 28'With the tip thereof engageabf'le in the groove aiorded by the hook flange 13.- Extending laterally'inwardly fromfthebodyt27 is an arm 29 underlying the hook head V2,8 in substantial spaced relation and having threadedly secured therethrough a movable clamping member comprising la .thumb screw'30 engageable at its tip hagainst the underside of the rim ilange 8 offset inwardly relative to the tip of the hook head 28. Extending outwardly fromfthe body 27 is anarm 31 to underlie the -countertop 5f and having means for engaging the under# surface thereof and in this instancecomprising a movable Vmetan-ber comprising a thumb screw 32 having the tip thereof engageable with the counter top under/the outer margin 12' of the frame strip 11', similarly as the engagement At its inner margin the frame strip 11,' has anV `sembled relationship,

Vvfacing surface of the head Asink rim yflange stantially rigid juncture fold llil-ange the edge extremity of which is disposed in limited spaced gap relation to the edge defining the counter top opening 35 in assembly.

A suitableseries of sink retaining clip brackets 43 is assembled with the sink rim lange and the counter top. In general respects, the clip brackets 43 are similar to the clip brackets 15. They are of a substantially rigid construction and are arranged to `be assembled with the sink and counter top in either an inverted preliminarily assembled relationship of the parts or in an upright asas preferred. Each of the clip brackets 43 includes a body portion 44 having a necklike upward extension V45 providednwith amore or less hook-like'h-ead portion 4 7 provided with a generally inwardly directed hook shoulder projection 48 arranged to project into the sink groove 42 and engage upon the upwardly facing ledge shoulder aorded by the underturned rim ilange portion 41. `In this instance, the outwardly 47 provides a rounded shoulder 49 adapted to thrustingly engage the opposing portion of the counter top edge deliningthe opening 35.

At its lower endthe clip bracket 43 has extending from the body 44 an outwardly and upwardly directed clamping arm S0 arranged to engage the underside of the counter top 33 and having a more or Alessrsharp upwardly directedttcorner 51 that may bite into the counter top surface as a fulcrum.

To aord manipulatable clamping means, the clip bracket member 43 is provided withan inwardly projecting arm 52 from the body 44 adjacent to the lower end of the extension neck 45 and arranged to underlie the s v38 in spaced relation. Carried by the arm 53 is'a` movable clam-ping member, here in the form Aof a screw 53 threaded through the arm 52 to project upwardly and downwardly therefrom and having an upper end sink iiange engaging head 54 and lower end tool-engageable means such as a screwdriver slot 5S.

In assembling the clip bracket 43 Iwith the sink and counter top, a maneuver similar to that shown in FIG- URE 3 is adapted to be effected while the clamping screw 53 is in a backed oli position relative to the shoulder projection 48 of the clip bracket, that is at a lower elevation adjacent to the carrying arm 52. After assembly ofthe clip bracket 43 has been effected 'with the sink and counter top, the clamping screw 53 is drawn up to thrust the head 54 against the underside of the rim iiange 38. This has the multiple effect of tending to rock the clip about a fulcrum where the head projection 48 engages the rim ilange shoulder 41. The clamping thrust arm 50 is thus driven toward the underside of the counter top 33 and more particularly the anni end edge 51 thrustingly engages the counter top and thus provides a second fulcrum on which the clip tends to rock in the continued upward thrust of the screw 53, thus effecting a downward pull on the head 47 and thus through the shoulder projection 48 on the sink shoulder 4l whereby to clamp the edge of the rim ange extension margin 4i) against the counter top. At the same time, the upward thrust of the screw head 54 against the rim ange 38 inwardly offset relative to the clip head projection 48 causes a tightening of the joint between the lapping underturned flange 41 and the contiguous underlying portion of the rim ange 38. Also, there is an inward drawing of the clip head 47 which has a centering elect on the sink rim flange whether the clip head thrust shoulder 49 engages the sink edge or not.

In the modification of FIGURE 6, much the same construction is provided as in FIGURE 5 and therefore primed reference numerals are applied to the elements of FIGURE 6, it being understood that the structure and action are substantially the same as in FIGURE 5 except as described hereinafter. The principal difference resides in that the folded juncture reinforcing shoulder flange provided by the underturned flange portion 41 and the lamina of the sink rim flange 38' is angled up- Iwardly as shown and the cli-p head shoulder projection portion 48 is complementally angled downwardly to afford an interhooked relationship which more adequately counter-acts any tendency for the shoulder projection 48 of the clip to slide away from the sink shoulder 41' should there be -any substantial clearance between the edge of the counter top and the clip shoulder 49'. It may also be noted that through this arrangement a somewhat deeper downward projection on the inner margin of the sink rim frame extension portion 39 may be eiected than in the form of FIGURE 5.

In the form of FIGURE 'Z an even deeper insetting of the sink rim ange is enabled. v To this end, a sink 57 of the drawn or spun thin sheet metal type has an upper lateral rim il'ange 58 having an integral frame extension portion 59 in one piece therewith provided with an outer downturned margin 60 the edge of which is engageable upon an upper surface lamina 641 of a counter top 62 having an opening 63 within which the sink 57 is suspended. From the counter top engaging margin 69, the sink Iframe extension 59 arches downwardly and inwardly to a generally underturned and in this instance downwardly and outwardly extending shoulder land juncture ange 64 lappingly engaging a complementary underlying flange portion 65 on the rim flange 58 `and deiining with the rim ange a reentrant downwardly and inwardly opening groove 67 gener-ally -aligned with a groove 68 at juncture of the frame extension ange 64 and the overlying body portion of the frame extension portion 59.

Retainingly centeringly securing the sink '57 in place with respect to the counter top 62 is a suitable series of retaining clip brackets 69 one of which is shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8. The clip bracket includes a body portion 70 from which projects upwardly a neckextension 71 having a head 72 provided with a downwardly Aand ine -vvardly projecting hook-likel shoulder projection 73 which is engageable in assembly within the groove 68 with the shoulder flange 64 of the sink. A return-bent laminated inwardly projecting fold arm 74 on the body '70 of the clip adjacent to the lower end of the neck 71 provides an arm 74 to underlie the rim flange 58 in spaced relation and having a tapped vertical hole 75 therethrough through which a clamping screw 77 is engaged on an axis to have a thrust tip 78 drive into the rim ilange groove 67 as the screw is drawn up by means of a suitable tool such as a screwdriver inserted in a lower end screwdriver slot '79. #Projecting generally outwardly and upwardly on the lower lamina of the arm 74 is a counter top engaging clamping arm 80 having an upwardly projecting terminal edge 81 bitingly fulcrurningly engageable with the underside of the counter top.

Assembly of ythe clip 69 may be effected similarly as described in connection with the clip 15 in FIGURE 3. Then as the clamping screw 77 is drawn up, it effects a tulcruming of the clip shoulder projection 73 on ythe sink shoulder 64 thus driving the terminal 81 of the arm 80 of the clip upwardly against the underside of the counter top '62. whereby to effect a downward thrusting pull of the rim flange frame exten-sion portion 59 to effecta sealing thrusting engagement of the outer marginal edge thereof against the upper surface of the counter top. At the same time, due to the rocking of the clip there is an inward as well as downward component of thrust of the clip shoulder 73 against the sink which tends to center the sink as well as hold it firmly in position against upward displacement. There is also a rm clamping coaction between the tip of the shoulder projection 73 and the tip 78 of the screw '7,7 desirably assuring a tight joint between the juncture shoulder fold flange lamina- Itions 64 and 65 of the sink flange structure.

It will be appreciated that all forms of the retaining clip bracket described lend themselves to ready selected adjusted location along the sink -rirn ilange. Such location may be adjusted with ease at any time. yShould it be found desirable at any time to reduce or increase the number of clips in the installation, that may be done. Should it become necessary to remove the sink, that may be readily effected by loosening the respective clamping screws of the clip brackets and removing the clip brackets.

Any of the several features of either form of the invention may be alternatively or selectively used in other form-s of the invention shown. Y

Although reference has been made herein to a sin-k or sink structure, it should be understood that this is to include various types of bowl constructions such as washbowls, utility bowls and the like in addition to kitchen or similar sinks.

If desired, lof course, a plastic sealing material such as putty, or the like, may be 4used between the margin of the sink rim flange frame extension and the underlying portion of the counter top.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as rny invention:

In a sink `structure including a counter having an opening 4defined by an edge, a sink member comprising an upwardly opening bowl having an outwardly extending rim flange having its outer extremity in inwardly spaced rel-ation to said counter edge, a frame extension projecting upwardly and voutwardly from said rim flange and overlying the counter top and supporting said sink member in respect to the counter top, said frame extension and said rim flange extremity defining under said frame extension and spaced therebelow and spaced inwardly from said edge a generally upwardly facing shoulder structure, and retaining clip bracket structure including a portion projecting upwardly between said edge and lsaid shoulder struct-ure and structure and another Aportion Yextending into underlying Y 'relation to the counter and having' means thereon engagng the counter and yet another portionextending into underlying relation to the rim flange and having upwardly engaging npon said shoulder prevent outward displacement by slippage of said movable means from said -place on the rim ange.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Buccini n May 29,-1928 Wagoner Feb. 18, 1936 Lyon V Apr. 22, 1941 4Lyon v 2 Apr. 27, 1943 Blakes'lee Apr. 22, 1948 Lyon -..Q Jan. 24, 1956 Hammer Q Julyl, 1958 Hammer July 22, 1958 Richardson Feb. 23, 1960 CTI-1ERV REFERENCES Carlton: Domestic Engineering, page 138J July 1958. 

